From the Philippine Information Agency (Jun 15): OPAPP, DILG orient Comprehensive Local Integration Program for Mindanao cluster
The Department of the Interior and Local Government and the
Office of the Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process (OPAPP) will jointly
conduct an Orientation-Seminar on Comprehensive Local Integration Program
(CLIP) and Former Rebels Information System (FRIS), on June 16 to 18, 2014 here.
This event will discuss the provisions of DILG-OPAPP Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2014-01, as the system that will provide socio-economic interventions to former rebels and their families and to facilitate the healing process including the management and disposal of surrendered firearms, according to Atty. Rene K. Burdeos, regional director, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), region 10.
The CLIP focuses in the integration program for members of the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army and National Democratic Front who have decided to abandon armed struggle and be mainstreamed into society.
The provincial/city directors of Philippine National Police, DILG provincial/HUC directors, provincial/city Social Welfare and Development Officers in the five regions of Mindanao are the participants of the event.
It will be graced by the presence of DILG-Undersecretary for Local Government Austere A. Panadero and the OPAPP-Undersecretary Atty. Maria Cleofe Gettie C. Sandoval.
Among the topics that will be discussed are Government’s Thrust on the Peace Process, Security Briefing and CPP/NPA/NDF Organizational Structure, CLIP DILG-OPAPP JMC 2014-01 and Administration and Processing of Financial Assistance to Former Rebels, Pertinent Accounting Rules and Regulations, Guidelines for the Disposition of Firearms, Explosives and Ammunitions for CLIP beneficiaries.
http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=1461402900186
The Darul Ifta will make the formal declaration live over the radio or on television. Fasting during Ramadan is prescribed and obligatory to every Muslim. Allah said:
“O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restrain.” Surah Al-Baqara (2):183
As Ramadan nears, Muslim scholars and asatidz in their sermons during the Friday congregational prayers urged Muslims to welcome the holy month with joy rather than worries. Fasting during Ramadan or month of sacrifice is obligatory to every Muslims, male and female including children who reach the age of maturity. A Muslims start fasting from dawn to dusk where they are prohibited to eat and drink; and married couples to engage in sexual activity. Backbiting, gossiping and creating intrigues should be avoided.
During the month, Muslims who fast shall avoid all that are forbidden; illegal and immoral acts. Ramadan is a month of ALLAH whose beginning is MERCY, the middle is FORGIVENESS, and the end is FREEDOM FROM FIRE. ALLAH has decreed this month the best of all months. The days of this month are the best among the days and the nights are the best among the nights and the hours during Ramadan are the best among the hours. This is a month in which you have been invited by Him (fast and pray). Allah has honored you in it. In every breath you take is a reward of Allah, your sleep is worship, your good deeds are accepted and your invocations are answered. Whoever does something good this month, ALLAH multiplies it by seventy times.
The month of Ramadan is a great opportunity to focus on bringing back a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Through fasting you learn how to manage your eating habits and improve self-discipline. It's a great time to do peace advocacy in the current atmosphere of anger, tension and sadness.
As the blessed & most beautiful month nears the better time to prepare for it is now and grab the immense rewards that are available and given by Allah. This may be our last Ramadan for life is so uncertain. Then there is no doubt that we must make the best of it for the reward of every good act in the month of Ramadan is multiplied many times.
Before the advent of Ramadan, one may perform voluntary fasting and Sunnah Prayer and/ or Fasting every Monday and Thursday. We should fast these days in order to prepare for the fasting during Ramadan and even after Ramadan we should continue to do so (the sunnah fasting) for fasting will intercede for us on the day hereafter. Muslims are reminded to do the following:
1. Devote much of this blessed month reciting/reading the Qur’an.
2. Making supplications – many of us rush our supplications and our hearts are often not present whilst we are supplicating to Allah. Almighty Allah says in the Qur’an: “When my servants as you concerning me, tell them I am indeed close to them. I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on me”. The place of supplication is so honorable to Allah, Prophet Muhammad said.
3.Sincere Repentance – Ramadan is the month where we can gain mercy and forgiveness from Allah for all of our sins past and present. “Truly Allah loves those who turn to HIM in repentance, and He loves those who keep themselves in purity”. (Qur’an 2:222). How unfortunate is a person who after the end of Ramadan does not gain any forgiveness of his sins from Allah but ends up piling more sins onto his account.
4.Generosity and Charity – Ramadan is the time for generosity and giving. The best charity is that given in Ramadan. And he who feeds a fasting person will gain the same reward as he will, without decreasing from the fasting person’s rewards. So we should get into the habit of giving in charity now so by the time Ramadan arrives we would increase in our generosity, giving to those less fortunate than ourselves. Surely in there hereafter we will regret that which we did not spend in the path of Allah.
5.Controlling the Tongue – Think before saying anything.
6.Improving Character and Manners – Surely if good character, manners and conduct towards others and know that these good deeds will be of the heaviest on the scales and will enable us to reach the highest ranks of Jannah and the closest to Allah.
7.Moderation in Eating – Excessive eating is not only a cause of many diseases but is also a major factor in stopping us from maximizing our worship to Allah. Surely this goes against the very purpose of Ramadan which is to be moderate in eating and to remember those who have lesser in life.
8.Implementing Sunnah’s into daily life – Following the Sunnah (Practices of the Holy Prophet Muhammad) is a command from Allah. So the best habit right now of implementing every Sunnah’s into our daily lives so by the time Ramadan comes we can continue to implement Sunnah’s and gain even more rewards for them.
Ramadan is a blessing for all Muslims and those that reaches this month is lucky to have given the chance by Allah to enjoy or earn more rewards from Him and repent from their sins.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/1044-as-ramadan-nears-religious-leaders-urge-muslims-to-welcome-the-holy-month